[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6080005,"mediaKeyId","2951779-c8488fae430a445bccbb3e07ba34b4d1","parentId",2951779,"title","Committee adopts substitute on receivership and sale of abandoned municipal parcels; sponsor cites very low assessed values","audioSeconds",119,"startMs",231000,"endMs",350000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2951779-c8488fae430a445bccbb3e07ba34b4d1&start=231&end=350","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2951779-c8488fae430a445bccbb3e07ba34b4d1/thumbnail_231000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6080005/Texas/Committee-adopts-substitute-on-receivership-and-sale-of-abandoned-municipal-parcels-sponsor-cites-very-low-assessed-values","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6080005-7bdc2962bf554ccf28f3686b4d23b827/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152688&Signature=aLV6YwW2wNzngCmtj74tVv0NL0tQ0DMT6BkQiQlKDpCQDkWYNZKI3963k85c5M~gl4wkFBDhO8aOR6nf0WJ06rn3E8k06bC3-3iZ0WE5X5NEropMYhWsV7~ueNaj-MR1AE3FjevZ4~knQSprv4XuU9Aw13JTlOTRh4TN4-M~sGlLAzYSNi1yKzafsxN8KiQRk0sDYeviu2dTolKGJUkdLer0aeEOr8czihHl0VUz4gfmm9VYS8oXcQNL9Iq4dEOWyELNrP5vMHpQAIrKdo9fTrpRU4SSz9ryjSb1Ekceg8-x0fFG5l1LjvUXgHBWIF0KNxYw~rTIG9fhrAYyxpZ4ZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Texas State Legislature","date","2025-04-10T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Committee on Local Government adopted a committee substitute to Senate Bill 1,579 on Oct. 12 and reported that substitute to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass and be printed.

Sponsor summary in committee: The bill addresses the appointment of a receiver for, and sale or acquisition of, certain parcels of land that are abandoned, unoccupied and undeveloped in certain municipalities. Committee members and staff recounted an investigation showing some of the affected parcels have extremely low appraisals—examples cited in committee suggested annual property taxes on such parcels can be roughly $10—making ordinary tax-collection mechanisms ineffective as a path to resolving derelict parcels.

Why it matters: The substitute would provide municipalities and courts with an additional statutory path—through receivership—to address abandoned and undeveloped parcels that otherwise remain off the market and can create blight or administrative burdens for local governments.

Committee discussion and context

The committee discussed the practical limits of tax enforcement for parcels with very low assessed value; the record notes the sponsor and committee members reviewed options and investigations prior to voting. The substitute was described as intended to enable disposition options where tax-foreclosure or other standard remedies were inadequate due to low assessed value or unclear ownership.

Formal action

The committee adopted the committee substitute and reported it to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass and be printed; the hearing record shows the roll call recorded five ayes and no nays. The committee also recommended the committee substitute for placement on the local and uncontested calendar.

What the record does not show

The committee transcript summarizes the substitute’s purpose but does not provide the full statutory language, implementation details, or a quantified estimate of the number of parcels affected. The transcript also does not specify the precise legal standards or court procedures that would govern a receiver appointment—those details will be clear once the substitute text is published.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee on Local Government (Part I) 04/10/2025\t","oneSentenceSummary","A committee substitute to Senate Bill 1,579, concerning appointment of receivers and sale or acquisition of certain abandoned, unoccupied and undeveloped parcels in some municipalities, was adopted and reported out of committee. Committee discussion noted the limited effectiveness of tax enforcement on very low-value parcels.","taxTitle","Committee on Local Government, Senate, Legislative, Texas","taxId",16927,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6080011,"Committee adopts substitute allowing chief appraiser to grant cemetery tax exemptions when owner unidentifiable",137,412000,549000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2951779-c8488fae430a445bccbb3e07ba34b4d1&start=412&end=549","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2951779-c8488fae430a445bccbb3e07ba34b4d1/thumbnail_412000.jpg","/articles/6080011/Texas/Committee-adopts-substitute-allowing-chief-appraiser-to-grant-cemetery-tax-exemptions-when-owner-unidentifiable","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6080011-e538fc59f954e4e9a77acac987fff57b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152688&Signature=A1y2bvxRSaXzntOCgfGhRtPlSMMXyxX6W2dzOlqWRm-ciMWczYiJ2lVtgffI9c43qQUF6NRqNE24mwMrtQ6Phnotu7GJv8~aFI23gYmQhkIagCsQONl2YCt16ZuGaqnVjhOiTEgd6Mn31xr3g7MLaAhQ8-oPPa1aQwZhWo-tq~jw7X2J6S1qB9UOtEh7s--6D1Vhru4Kd~fvmi0TekHWsK0-t~CvLB8csiBVCyY2lWhUqK0nnm~PvCkFxsigNVx3MW1Cnk7AX4PgBFVuUelMQFMnuviolvMCUQ0CZuALJ-0myMzznRwEDrv-DyRNNd8ZfdEJphtUs52ZpyyUS50f6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Local Government adopted a committee substitute to Senate Bill 1,920 on Oct. 12 and reported that substitute to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass and be printed.

The committee substitute says a chief appraiser of an appraisal district shall grant a property tax exemption for land used for human burial if no person applies for the exemption and the appraiser knows or should know, based on a reasonable inspection, that the property is a cemetery and the owner is not identifiable. The substitute permits chief appraisers to consult a county historical commission or a nonprofit organization to help determine whether property is a cemetery.

Why it matters: Some cemetery parcels have unclear ownership but contain human remains; without an exemption process recognized by appraisal officials, former burial grounds can remain on tax rolls and face administrative or market pressures. The substitute provides a mechanism at the appraisal-district level to grant exemptions when no applicant is present.

Committee discussion and context

Senator West explained the substitute and emphasized practical problems with older, often low-value cemetery parcels. A committee speaker noted an example from committee investigation that some parcels have annual property taxes of roughly $10, limiting the effectiveness of ordinary property-tax enforcement or foreclosure as a means to address abandoned burial sites. The substitute allows appraisal officials to rely on reasonable inspection and local historical or nonprofit expertise when ownership is unknown.

Formal action

The committee adopted the substitute by voice/roll-call vote and reported it to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass and be printed; the roll call recorded five ayes and no nays. The committee also recommended the committee substitute for placement on the local and uncontested calendar.

What the record does not show

The hearing record summarizes the committee substitute but does not cite a statute number or provide the full substitute text on the transcript. Implementation details—such as how appraisal districts will document inspections, how nonprofits or county historical commissions will be designated, or timelines for applying exemptions—are not specified in the committee transcript and will depend on the substitute’s enacted text.

Next steps

The substitute was reported to the full Senate and recommended for the local and uncontested calendar; floor consideration will follow according to the Senate’s scheduling procedures.","A committee substitute to Senate Bill 1,920 was adopted and reported out of the Senate Committee on Local Government. The substitute directs appraisal districts’ chief appraisers to grant property tax exemptions for cemetery land if no applicant exists and the land is identifiable as a cemetery.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":80,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":83,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6080016,"Senate Committee on Local Government reports a string of bills to the full Senate; many placed on local uncontested calendar",750,1162000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2951779-c8488fae430a445bccbb3e07ba34b4d1&start=412&end=1162","/articles/6080016/Texas/Senate-Committee-on-Local-Government-reports-a-string-of-bills-to-the-full-Senate-many-placed-on-local-uncontested-calendar","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6080016-7fcc7dc4702856113c98fb7aa2baa792/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152688&Signature=F~DgwJtzDC~kS3VL~xcFUvo4v4LPldIAWRyBPl~uqJ86CAJqZK76E3RCtPehBUXzkEZhi2ksXrTIZebZiw6OxOXylokVbvDLyVSEccevIl7Doq9j5JOX5MwrVg1n9rO~0JeiRAHXtdiazOK8vMlJTN-~IPDyC2QqH~SDPr~2UnhM1KZ-BL1JTZMmAP7eF6q-8txT~MgfJQ9H76NfUqitW3KO55jG8xpNkeMxQ0KoVHKJkSvEggHjijDQgdFHT6S1phSK4eSrv3zuLE6oZjEsZoQPzeiHlaCcfRHy-iCioaLxJh7lyVvcy6ECKQbUuVXH3Dw~qUseGRnv2UYnZWvJmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Local Government on Oct. 12 reported a series of bills to the full Senate, adopting committee substitutes for multiple measures and recommending several for the local and uncontested calendar.

The actions were procedural: the committee adopted committee substitutes where noted, voted on whether to report bills to the full Senate with recommendations (most “do pass” for the committee substitute), and recommended several measures for placement on the local and uncontested calendar.

Why it matters: forwarding bills with a committee recommendation and placing measures on the local and uncontested calendar moves them closer to final Senate consideration while signaling the committee’s assessment. Several measures involve municipal land and appraisal matters that affect local governments and property owners.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 434 — Reported with a recommendation that it do pass (committee vote recorded as 5 ayes, 0 nays). Recommended for the local, noncontested calendar. (Description: not specified in the hearing record.)

- Senate Bill 1,177 (committee substitute adopted) — Committee substitute reported to the full Senate as a recommendation that it do pass (committee vote recorded as 5 ayes, 0 nays). Recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. (Description: not specified.)

- Senate Bill 1,214 — Reported with recommendation that it do pass (committee vote recorded as 5 ayes, 0 nays). Recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. (Description: not specified.)

- Senate Bill 1,579 (committee substitute adopted) — Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass (committee vote recorded as 5 ayes, 0 nays). Recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. (Related to appointment of a receiver and sale/acquisition of certain abandoned, unoccupied and undeveloped parcels; description in committee hearing: summary provided by sponsor).

- Senate Bill 1,920 (committee substitute adopted) — Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass (committee vote recorded as 5 ayes, 0 nays). Recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. (This bill concerns property tax exemptions for certain cemetery parcels; see separate article.)

- Senate Bill 1,951 — Reported with recommendation that it do pass (committee vote recorded as 4 ayes, 1 nay). (Description: not specified.)

- Senate Bill 2,046 — Reported with recommendation that it do pass (committee vote recorded as 4 ayes, 1 nay). (Description: not specified.)

- Senate Bill 2,068 (committee substitute adopted) — Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with recommendation that it do pass (committee vote recorded as 5 ayes, 0 nays). Recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. (Description: not specified.)

- Senate Bill 2,183 — Reported with recommendation that it do pass (committee vote recorded as 4 ayes, 1 nay). (Description: not specified.)

- Senate Bill 3,034 (committee substitute adopted) — Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with recommendation that it do pass (committee vote recorded as 5 ayes, 0 nays). Recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. (Sponsor summary: aligns bill language with current transportation statutes and references the Doug Pickock Aggie Expressway as the future location.)

- Senate Bill 8,44 (committee substitute adopted) — Committee substitute reported to the full Senate with recommendation that it do pass (committee vote recorded as 4 ayes, 1 nay). (Description: not specified.)

The committee’s roll-call responses—where recorded—are reflected above. Several motions adopted committee substitutes at the hearing; where the record names a committee substitute being laid out and adopted, the committee then voted to report that substitute to the full Senate.","The Senate Committee on Local Government voted on more than a half-dozen bills Oct. 12, 2025, forwarding each to the full Senate. Several committee substitutes were adopted; most measures were recommended for the local and uncontested calendar.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee adopts substitute on receivership and sale of abandoned municipal parcels; sponsor cites very low assessed values

Committee adopts substitute allowing chief appraiser to grant cemetery tax exemptions when owner unidentifiable

Senate Committee on Local Government reports a string of bills to the full Senate; many placed on local uncontested calendar